Here are some of more or less funny plants that I saw last weekend when we visited Il-Bajja tal-Ġnejna. Another exciting nature park we never visited before. But thanks to Fanny we still find new places to explore.I’ve never seen anything like this. Looks edible! Wonder how this one will look when growth ends.A cool growth hairstyle.For me, the most precious growth, when Fanny became part of our family.

Fanny loves warmth. Today it has rained the whole day, it’s windy and only 9 degrees.
She refuses to go out for a walk and now she is sleeping close to the fireplace.She’s not so fond of cats, but likes to chase them.Tuesday Photo Challenge – Gentle

Yes, I know, we are all almost back to our everyday life again and it’s the third day of the New Year 2019. Some may have noticed that I let my blog rest during the festive season, that was without any special reason.Above, two typical images of Malta. Greenery all over the island and yellow flowers, even though it’s winter. And when you see the different colored balconies in the cluttered but yet charming surroundings, it’s easy to guess where you are.

From yesterdays visit to Il-Gżira Manoel / Manoel Island in Gzira. I also noticed that the mimosa trees got buds and they will soon bloom, in February.But, it feels colder than cold, especially when I walk with Fanny on the cliffs along the Mediterranean sea. Strong winds, 12 degrees but luckily the sun shines. The forecast says it will drop to 4 degrees at night!The new year has just begun and we know nothing about the future but it looks bright with lots of love and joy. Take care out there!!!
Anita & Fanny

Last Friday we went to Majjistral National Park in Il-Mellieħa. We haven’t been there since spring. It was 18 degrees, and a bit windy but it was really nice to walk on the cliffs again along the Mediterranean Sea.

Fanny really enjoyed running around freely in the green countryside.

I came home with more than hundreds of images in my camera.These were just a part of them, there will be more from the park in my next post.
Hope you enjoyed!

During the Second World War the Ta Qali National Park was used as an airfield. Today the park is very popular with Maltese people and a busy place on Saturday afternoons when many families gather for picnics.

There are many wild cats in the park and Fanny loves to chase them, luckily she never manage to catch any. They run too fast or climb on a tree. But when they lie down or humps, she’s scared of them.Dogs are allowed to run freely in the late afternoons but must be kept on leash all other times. This image with the green grass was taken after the rain, compared to the one above which was taken before. Within a few months, the grass will be so high that Funny is not visible. Then we play hide and seek.
My lovely stubborn and curious Basenji 💕

It’s hard to believe that this creature will transform into a colorful moth. I’ve never seen such a big caterpillar. It’s about 15 cm/6 inches. Could be an Elephant Hawk-moth, Deilephila elpenor but I’m not sure.

Now, that caterpillar was not yet colorful so here’s some sunshine from Ta Qali……where the grass was wet with dew.A spider’s web along with dew create a nice pattern. Nature is an amazing world to explore and we must all do what we can to preserve it. “We are in danger of destroying ourselves by our greed and stupidity. We cannot remain looking inwards at ourselves on a small and increasingly polluted and overcrowded planet.”—Stephen Hawking

Food for thought can be that earth is home to millions of species, but just one dominates it.
Wish you all a lovely weekend!“If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth,
man would have no more than four years to live.”—Albert Einstein

A few weeks ago there was no greenery at all in Ta Qali National Park. After the summer heat it was very dry. Then the rainy season began and nature woke up again. Although it’s October and the winter season awaits, it feels almost like spring is here. Fanny can merrily run around in the high grass again, surrounded by yellow flowers.

In Malta you will not find colorful autumn leaves, but cones may also have autumn colors.I haven’t seen these beautiful flowers since last spring.

This is Malta in October.
In January it becomes colder before the real spring begins in February when the almond tree blossoms.
A pretty pleasant winter awaits.

Last weekend we went to Selmun Bay after we heard that there should be a nice dog-friendly sandy beach. Getting there was quite challenging, this is NOT a one way road! Fortunately, we didn’t meet any cars.Here we are! Looks nice and very dry up here, but we have to climb down a steep slope to reach the beach.

We soon realize that the water and the sandy beach is black! Black and full of seaweed! And where the water is clear it’s very rocky and slippery which makes it difficult to walk, especially when holding Fanny in my arms.But we manage to take a quick dip and a few meters from the shore the bottom consists of soft sand.Back from the water and Fanny has decided that it’s enough for today. No more swimming, now I just want to relax and observe what others are doing on the beach and in that black muddy water.

Fanny is obviously not the only one who prefers to stay on dry land.

All pictures in this post were taken with my digital camera Panasonic Lumix TZ100 that I rarely use for the reason that I still haven’t learned how to use it. I used only P-mode but I’m pleased with the quality and will try to use it more. The weight is only 300 gram compared to my Canon 1,5 kilo.

Today is Fanny’s birthday and she’s now one year old. We have had here since she was three months and this post is dedicated to my lovely Basenji. A clever engaging breed with great personality and a strong own will……and with a very special tail.Here she’s only three months old and just arrived from Sweden to our home in Malta. Today she runs free in Ta Qali without leash, always coming back when we call or if we hide.

Hiding in the grass. Today, the green grass is gone because of the heat.

Always looking for something.

She really loves the sun.

Tired.

Playful!

Tired after running too much.

We have only meet one Basenji so far here in Malta. They are not common at all and I think there are not more than 5-6 dogs of this breed here on the island..

What are you looking at? 😀

I don’t know why but Fanny has always enjoyed chew on stones and I have noticed that’s a commmon habit even in other dogs.

Click on an image to enlarge. There are a short text to every image.Did You Know?
*The Basenji, whose name means Bush Thing, is one of the most ancient breeds of dog.

*Basenjis have been around very long, they hung out with the ancient Egyptians. In fact, there is evidence of the dogs existing as far back as 4000 BCE. Each is different and unique, and each breed provides dogs that have their own personality traits.

*Well known as the “barkless” dog from Africa, the Basenji attracts admirers with his short coat, small, muscular body, alert manners, erect ears, and tail curled tightly over one hip. A wrinkled brow gives him a quizzical and sometimes mischievous expression.

*In Kenya, the dogs are used to lure lions out of their caves, as Basenjis not are afraid of bigger animals. Masai hunters use about four of these dogs at one time to find lions and get them out in the open. Once a lion leaves the safety of its cave, hunters form a circle around the big cat to take it down.

*Like cats, Basenjis like to lick themselves clean. They shed very little and have no undercoat, so they do not tolerate the cold very well. They tend to find the sunniest spot to take a nap.

*Basenjis love to play and play. They act like puppies even into old age. They are very comical to watch and provide entertainment for their owners.

*Basenjis are very intelligent and quick learners but that does not make them easy to train. They are very independent and usually have an agenda of their own.

It was on our roof terrace I took my first macro images.A few years ago we bought seeds in an attempt to grow rhubarb. But it didn’t succeed.

Spiders! Click on an image to enlarge.

It’s early in the spring and my dear man is cleaning while I take a selfie in the window of our office.

I’m not sure how many different kinds of flowers we have had but these are some of them.

One of my husband’s many fun experiments. Can you really fry an egg in the sun? Obviously!!Our terrace as it once looked and below, what it looks like right now. Yes, added some color. Our office, my dear husbands atelier and our dining room that we use every summer are gone after twelve years. Of our flowers and plants there are only a very few left and so are the butterflies and other insects. Looking at the stars in the sky and the moon that shine but this is not my Seventh heaven anymore.Fanny, Yeah, come on!!! Rock ‘n’ roll!!!

All images in this post have I taken on our roof terrace over the years gone by……apart from the last one.

Come with me and take a dip in the sea, said the bigger dog when we were at Manoel Island last weekend.
It’s nice and cool, 22 degrees!! Come on Fanny!!!I don’t know if I dare I’ve never swam before but it looks fun. Fair enough, I’ll try!! Splash!!!! This may not be the best way to get up from the water but I’m a brave, strong and very stubborn Basenji who never gives up. I will certainly try again but may need some assistance from my leader.

Hopefully Fanny and I will soon swim together in the Mediterranean where it’s now 22 degrees. Some dogs may have the physical capacity to swim, but a mortal fear of the water. We’ll have to start on shallow waters and I’ll try to make her feel safe and encourage her to enjoy it. If that doesn’t work I’ll will never force her.…💖Who knows, within a week or two, she may be a real water lovers.💖

I’ve shown some pictures from Majjistral Park but not so many from the plateau that is high above sea level. From here the views are amazing but it’s real steep at the edge of the high cliffs. Do not walk too close!Most of the plants up here are small, you can see the ant. These grow individually……whilst these blooms together and forms like small meadows on the plateau.A symbol of the Navy.A very special flower that I’ve never seen before. To me they look like soft corals.

Finally, Fanny on the run, full of energy 💖 …until we are back home. More to come…
Meanwhile, wish you all a great Sunday 💖

In my last post, I mentioned that we went hiking in Majjistral Nature Park last Saturday. We walked for about three hours and we got lost. These are just a very few of all the pictures I took, just to give an impression of how it looks in the park. You can choose between walking at the flat plateau which we did the first time… …for more adventure you can choose to walk along the slopes on narrow winding paths, and that’s what we did this time. Me, my husband and our brave Basenji Fanny. Here at the beginning the walkway is quite wide.Our first stop will be at the small buildings by the water. When we were here last time we thought this was a dead end but on our way back we meet a couple who said that you can continue around the corner and further up there are a stairway where you can get up to the plateau. No need to go back and just a few hours walk.

This trip can easily be a very long trip since I stop all the time to take pictures. Here´s the second butterfly I seen so far this year. Sadly, my macro lens was in my bag, but I managed to take some close ups anyway.Now the paths have become more narrow and the slopes down towards the sea are steeper.We will soon arrive at the small buildings where we will rest before moving on to see what’s waiting around the corner. It became quite exciting, but I’ll leave that until part two. Before I finish, I have to mention my beloved four-legged friend. She’s soon nine months old, still a puppy but very clever and so brave. She proved that on several occasions during the next part of our adventure.💖💖

I think this post may fit well with the theme of breathe with its breathtaking views, the breathtaking adventures, and our deep breaths when we were exhausted after climbing and when we realized we were lost. If that’s not enough then it’s obvious above how Fanny breathes.

Where would I rather be, I asked myself when I was sitting in front of my computer and worked last Friday. I decided to take a day off and went to Majjistral National Park a second time to explore and enjoy the nature. Just me, Fanny and my camera. I’d Rather Be out there than sitting on my office chair.

In the park you´ll find wild flowers and different plants everywhere. Most of them are quite small so you have to look for them. Now I also got the chance to try my new macro lens but sadly, it was very windy and for some reason, my M mode setting doesn’t work anymore. But it was a lovely day, where I´d rather be…

Sometimes, I get a feeling of not knowing why or for whom I post my pictures on this blog. You’ll find that some of my pictures are posted without any special intention. I’ve no inspiration to take part in photo challenges at the moment. Right now, I’m just trying to keep my blog alive but…

A kite flying in the air is a kind of freedom for both the child on the ground and for the viewer.

This road sign is so cute! I have never seen a hedgehog here in Malta but these signs are quite common. Hopefully there are many hidden living in the bushes, although they are not visible.A typical Maltese boat with its special eye, not the first one I show, I know and there will be many more.

Dogs! I know that some of you aren’t interested at all, like me when it comes to sport. But this weekend when we let Fanny run freely without leash for the first time she was exceedingly happy, and so was I!!

I have read so much about letting Basenjis run freely. They completely ignore you and take the opportunity to search for their own adventures. That´s not true, she ran away but not too far without being aware of where we were.There were also exciting meetings with other dogs in Ta Qali National Park.

Suzy was friendly, just trying to scare you with her ugly smile while another dog just laughed. At home after a fantastic weekend! She´s now seven months old and I love her so much…

Last Sunday we went to St. Anton Gardens in Attard where the annual Citrus Festival took place. But Fanny didn’t enjoy it that much, too many people, so much noise and I was too busy managing my camera. So we just walked around the park where there weren’t so many people for about an hour before we left.But we were lucky, instead of citrus in quantities and lots of different varieties we found these two beautiful black Swans swimming around so peacefully. I’ve never seen black Swans before!

So graceful and with a distinctive beauty in its movement, style and shape. I’ll visit them again soon.

It feels like spring is already here when I see all these flowers but still, only 16-17 degrees in the air.What is this? One of nature created works of art!A small visitor, I wish I saw more of them.

This one is not so good, I know!!!

Now that we have Fanny, we go to the park every weekend. I feel so happy when I see her running in the high grass and how she really enjoys it. She is now 6 months old and not always easy to catch with my camera…

Some of the year’s first wild flowers and plants I found in Ta ‘Qali National Park.
Malta January 2018.

Fanny, really enjoy being in nature among the green grass and all white flowers. Still we can´t have her loose but with an eight meter long leash she can run quite freely. At least when she´s wise enough to run in a circle. Next Friday we will take her to school to learn more about behavior, obedience and much more…

To celebrate the end of the year, this week we share the most meaningful photo we’ve taken in 2017.

This little Proboscis baby monkey I saw very close to Sarawak River and Kuching City. A place where you rarely meet them.

Wild Proboscis are only found in Borneo and Indonesia. With a threatening extinction it´s amazing to get the chance to meet this unique species in their natural environment. Moments I`ll never forget.A favorite picture I took in Permai Rainforest in Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia in April 2017.

Last but not least. After four years of waiting, I finally got my beloved four-legged little puppy home to Malta. A long-awaited new family member, an amazing dog that will bring a lot of joy for many years to come.

Above you see pictures from our terrace and below from Ta Qali National Park where we went with Fanny last weekend. We also found a Dog Park but Fanny is too young to visit it, we have to wait until she is at least six month old. But she enjoyed the other part of the park while we trained her to walk well kept on leash.

A lovely flower I never seen before.

It was really green in the park!

Love the color.

The National Park is a big green space in central Malta, used for several events throughout the year. Ta’ Qali National Park stands where once was a Royal Air Force airfield and barracks between 1943 and 1950. During the Second World War the Ta Qali National Park was used as an airfield and is today a very popular picnic area with plenty of space.

Yesterday we went to Saint Agatha’s Tower in Mellieħa, also known as the Red Tower, located half an hour’s drive from home. Not because of the tower itself but for the surroundings, the nature and the view.Fanny really enjoys to explore new areas and there’s a lot left for her to discover on this island.On Saturday when we visited a park close to Floriana nearby Valletta. Fanny is kept on a lead all the time while I try to teach her to walk without pulling all the time, not as easy as it sounds. A stone is a stone, but some stones can even smile. Or did we meet a magical being 😉

Click on an image in the gallery to enlarge. To each image there is a short text.

Once again I take part in Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge and the theme for this week is “Pets”! It suits me well because I now have my own pet. My funny silly, lovely little Fanny, almost four months old.

There are lots of wild cats in Ġnien Indipendenza/Independence Garden here in Sliema. Mutual harmony between dog and human being.

This blog is not going to be a Dog-blog but now and then I’ll post pics of my little puppy.
She`s now a part of my everyday life.